Uglies by Scott Westerfield. New York: Simon Pulse, 2005
Teaser - Tally Youngblood is not going to be ugly for long--the wonderful surgeons will soon make her perfectly, stunningly pretty...but only if she spies on and destroys the life of her only real friend.
Plot Summary - Tally and her best friend, Peris, live in a society where children are considered horribly ugly until the age of 16 when surgeons smooth and perfect their faces and bodies until they are supermodel pretty. Peris goes first, leaving Tally behind and she can't wait to join him in the Pretty city where champagne, parties, and clothes as beautiful as each person's new face are free and plentiful. Before getting there, though, she meets Shay; they form a tight bond sneaking out at night and having wonderful adventures together. Shay seriously doubts the goodness of the Pretty transformation, and when she runs away to avoid it, Tally is at once intrigued and horrified--and lonely. When it's finally Tally's turn to be relieved from her ugliness, just before she enters the surgery she is taken aside by the evil Dr. Cable and told that in order to receive the gift of stunning beauty and the life of joy and frivolity she's anticipated for 16 years, she will have to find Shay and turn her in along with all the others who have left the city. When Tally finds the "Smoke" where Shay and the escapees are hiding, she faces a more difficult decision and life than she ever imagined.
Critical Evaluation -
Information about the author
Genre - Science fiction
Curriculum Ties - At a school where ethical responsibility and/or personal character development is taught, this book would be an excellent choice to inspire conversations focusing on loyalty, beauty, and state control, to name just a few.
Booktalking Ideas
Reading Level - 12 - 18
Challenge Issues
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